“Christian in a Masjid” a poem by Amani Garvin ’15

By Milada Vigerova
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The following poem by Amani Garvin ’15 was published in the national print magazine Cicada in June 2014. Amani currently attends Columbia University.

Christian in a Masjid

The green carpet of the Masjid,
The smell of wooden Church pews,
Open hands receiving blessings,
Steepled fingers towards Heaven,
Grandma’s olive green Hijab- holding her thin hair.
Aunt Esther’s cream Sunday morning church hat.

I have fallen into two different types of love,
and they create conflict
within and out of my heart.

At night I pray, to God and Allah,
because there must be
a place where they both reside
hand in hand like brothers.

I must live through this life
to find the one beyond
where I can be at peace.